I have a coop with a Black Jersey Giant roo and 2 White Rock hens. I am looking for a large, faster growing chicken that could be used instead of CX meaties.

Six chicks hatched and are now about 5 weeks old; pictures were taken last week. Three (3) are all black with small, dark combs and black feet. The other 3 are barred (black and white) with larger, lighter colored combs and light colored legs. It seems like there could be a pattern here. Are the barred ones males?

(Before I get to the pictures, I will admit that I have Cuckoo Marans in my flock. Looking at the barred chicks makes me want to second guess myself -- did I mislable some eggs? If you think the barred ones are really Marans, let me know. I do have more of the Jersey-Rock eggs incubating now. I need to get a larger sampling for my experiment.)

Chicks #1 and #3 are both definite roosters by appearance. Genetically, it's impossible to get a barred female from your cross. She would of had to get the barring gene from her dad. If her dad had a barring gene he would show it himself, since he's black. So even though #2 doesn't look as rooster-y as #1 and #3, he must be a rooster.

Apparently your White Rocks are genetically barred, you just can't see it. Where did you get them, if you don't mind me asking?

Chicks #1 and #3 are both definite roosters by appearance. Genetically, it's impossible to get a barred female from your cross. She would of had to get the barring gene from her dad. If her dad had a barring gene he would show it himself, since he's black. So even though #2 doesn't look as rooster-y as #1 and #3, he must be a rooster.

Apparently your White Rocks are genetically barred, you just can't see it. Where did you get them, if you don't mind me asking?

I think the 3 barred chicks look alike and the 3 solid black ones do as well. I do have 2 hens, so they would both have to genetically barred or our theory doesn't work. I bought them as 4 month olds from a seller in Vineland, NJ. I have 2 young (3 month old) pullets from Welp hatchery. Eventually, I'd like to try the same cross with them (same roo). I took the pictures last week, so maybe I'll check the chickens again. I'm also wondering if I have a baby picture of these chicks. I have more due Christmas day.

I will probably be caponizing the males, so having a sexlink combo would be very helpful!

BTW, the White Rock cockerel that I kept from a straight run Welp order is huge. He is young (3-4 months), but a really good size. Can't wait until he matures!

Yes, I think all of them are Jersey Giant / White Rock crosses. The white rocks had just started laying and the eggs were on the smaller side. I did have a Cuckoo Maran (x Buff Orp) egg hatch, but I think that bird didn't make it.

We could question the purity of the White Rocks. And I agree that they look like Cuckoo Marans.

I will be able to confirm the gender when I caponize them, but I have found that the BYC people are usually right.

The chicks are due on Christmas day, which might mean they'll could hatch as early as Saturday/Sunday. There are 12 J-Rock eggs and 6 Marans/Orpington crossed eggs.

I'm back with an update: hatched about 15-16 chicks on Christmas day. Most of them are what I call " Jersey Rocks" and it looks like the sex linking is going to hold true -- the chicks have flesh OR dark colored combs (probably the best way to determine gender in these.) and the ones with flesh colored combs are developing lighter barring to their feathers.